【推荐2】Recently a Beijing father sent in a question at an Internet forum (论坛) asking what "PK" meant. "My family has been watching the 'Super Girl' singing competition TV program . My little daughter asked me what 'PK' meant, but I had no idea," explained the puzzled father.
To a lot of Chinese young people who have been playing games online, it is impossible not to know this term. In such Internet games, "PK" is short for "Player Kill", in which two players fight until one ends the life of the other.
In the case of the "Super Girl" singing competition, "PK" was used to refer to the stage where two singers have to compete with each other for only one chance to go up in competition ranking.
Like this father, Chinese teachers at high schools have also been finding their students' compositions using Internet jargons (行话) which are difficult to understand. A high school teacher from Tianjin asked her students to write compositions with simple language, but they came up with a lot of Internet jargons that she didn't understand.
"My 'GG' came back this summer from college. He told me I've grown up to be a 'PLMM'. I loved to 'FB' with him together; he always took me to the 'KPM'," went one composition.
"GG" means Ge Ge (Chinese pinyin for brother). "PLMM" refers to Piao Liang Mei Mei (beautiful girl). "FB" means Fu Bai (corruption). "KPM" is short for KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald's.
Some specialists welcome Internet jargons as a new development in language.
If you do not even know what a Kong Long (dinosaur, referring to an ugly looking female) or a Qing Wa (frog, referring to an ugly looking male) is, you will possibly be regarded as a Cai Niao!
1. By writing the article, the writer tries to   ________ .

A．explain some Internet language

B．suggest common Internet language

C．laugh at the Beijing father

D．draw our attention to Internet language

2. What does the writer think about the term "PK"?

A．Fathers can't possibly know it.

B．The daughter should understand it.

C．Online game players may know it.

D．"Super Girl" shouldn't have used it.

3. The examples of the Beijing father and the Tianjin teacher are used to show that Internet jargons ________ .

A．are used not only online

B．can be understood very well

C．are welcomed by all the people

D．cause trouble to our mother tongue

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．A puzzled father

B．Do you speak Internet-ish?

C．Keep away from Internet-ish

D．Kong Long or Qing Wa?

【推荐3】A new study suggests that the more teenagers watch television, the more likely they are to develop depression (情绪低落) as young adults.

The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent (青少年的) health to survey the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than 4,000 adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in the year 2000.

As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.

Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one.

The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.

The study didn’t explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression.

Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to be socially active, to read, to attend religious services and to vote.

1. We can learn from the survey that of all the media use ___________________.

A．computer games are teenagers’ favorite

B．most teenagers prefer to listen to the radio

C．teenagers enjoy watching TV very much

D．newspaper is not included in the survey

2. According to the passage, what kind of activity may help prevent depression?

A．Taking part in sports.	B．Playing computer games.
C．Listening to the radio.	D．Watching movies.

3. We can conclude that a teenager should ____________.

A．play more video games instead of watching TV

B．attend religious services and care for politics

C．be more active in reading and studying

D．be active in taking part in outdoor activities

【推荐3】Contributing to climate change efforts and biodiversity conservation have been the priority of the ongoing work for global beverage leader the Coca-Cola Co. in China, as it has operated more than 50 water management programs in the country.

Since 2007, Coca-Cola has been working with the WWF, UNDP and other partners to protect the freshwater resources of the Yangtze River, in which rare species such as pandas, snow leopards, white cranes, porpoises and Chinese dragonflies were bred. Coca-Cola’s actions over a decade have effectively contributed to the protection of more than 200, 000 hectares of high-ecological value are, as part of the efforts to conserve the biodiversity and communities of 2 million hectares of wetland ecosystems in the basin.

Coca-Cola China has also been working on responsible agriculture. Since 2012, together with the UNDP, Coca-Cola China has helped double the production of sugar cane in Chongzuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, by establishing an irrigation (灌溉) system for the first time, which uses wastewater byproducts to irrigate the fields.

“The water coming from the sugar processing facility needed to be treated, but once it’s treated it can be used,” Goltzman said. “You don’t have to withdraw from the ecosystem to water those crops.”

The Coca-Cola Company used a smart “golden triangle” model in all sustainability proposals. The innovative (创新) model gives full play to the advantages and expertise of governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations and other sectors of society, to meet the increasingly serious environmental challenges, and protect water and biological diversity.

Zhang said, “We act in ways to create a more sustainable and better shared future. Sustainability remains core to what we do.”

1. Which of the following can best describe the Coca-Cola Co.?

A．Peace-conscious.	B．Fully-equipped.
C．Earth-friendly.	D．Recently-built.

2. Why is the production of sugar cane in Chongzuo doubled?

A．Processed wastewater byproducts are used.

B．The sugar processing facility is set up.

C．The irrigation system has been changed.

D．The ecosystem has been improved.

3. What can be learned about “golden triangle” model?

A．It consists of new conservation proposals.

B．It is created by nongovernmental organizations.

C．It is employed to solve the problem of water shortage.

D．It makes the most of social resources to help nature.

4. Where can the text be found?

A．In an essay.	B．In a fashion magazine.
C．In a newspaper.	D．In a biology book.

【推荐1】Dear Sir,

There is a plan to build a new supermarket on the edge of the Whitefields housing estate（住宅区）, on the land where the local library now is. I live at Whitefields, and I would like to express my concern about this plan. It is not that I am completely against the idea of building a supermarket—I just think that as a community we need to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages before committing ourselves.

It is clear that the library is under-used and in poor condition. It is also clear that there are very few shops near here and a supermarket would be a good thing to have. But the people who want to build the supermarket seem to think that no one wants the library any more, and that it isn’t a must because of the Internet and so on. Is this necessarily true, especially for elderly people? What about young people who don’t have the Internet at home and need to go to the library to do their homework? Where can they study if they have to share a room with a younger brother or sister?

On the other hand, there is an argument that a new supermarket would not only bring more choice of shopping and more convenience for local people, but it would also bring some much-needed jobs for younger people in the town—and this is a good point. What we need to do is consider the effect a supermarket will have on our quality of life. Certainly local people, including me, will find shopping a lot easier and more convenient. But there will also be extra traffic. In a few years from now, the roads in and around will be full of cars in the daytime and delivery lorries at night, and not only that—we will have got used to it, too. Are more jobs and more convenience worth such an influence on our daily lives? Perhaps, but this is what we have to ask ourselves.

I believe that all the people of Whitefields, and the authority, need to discuss this question in an open-minded way—and I hope that by the time a decision is taken, we will have had a full and fair discussion of the issues involved, and that the local authority will have really listened to everyone’s view. Is that too much to ask?

Yours faithfully,

Tom Watkins

1. The supporters of the supermarket probably think ________.

A．the library is no longer needed

B．the library is too poor to be rebuilt

C．the supermarket brings down goods price

D．supermarket increases local workers’ income

2. What does the underlined “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Shopping convenience.	B．Job opportunity.
C．Life quality.	D．Traffic condition.

3. What is the author’s attitude toward the plan?

A．Approving.	B．Neutral.
C．Negative.	D．Confident.

4. Why is the letter written?

A．To promote effective public reading.

B．To call for concern over an urban project.

C．To discuss ways of improving life quality.

D．To express dissatisfaction with public equipment.

【推荐2】China successfully sent the 52nd and 53rd satellites of its domestically developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System （BDS）-the last two medium Earth orbit （MEO） satellites for the BDS-3 constellation（星座）－into space on Monday, marking the completion of the global navigation system's core constellation deployment（部署）and this year's BDS satellite launch campaign.

Launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Sichuan Province, on board a Long March-3B carrier rocket with an Expedition-1 upper stage, the two satellites were injected into planned orbits after more than three hours' flight.

Since the first BDS-3 satellite was launched on November 5, 2017, China has conducted 18 BDS satellite launch missions, successfully sending 30 into their planned orbit, setting a national record for highest mission frequency and success rate.

In-orbit tests will be carried out before the two MEO satellites are commissioned（正式委托）.By then the core constellation for the Chinese global navigation satellite system will be successfully completed.

Wang Ping, chief designer of the BDS-3 system, said that the hybrid constellation design, in which three groups of satellites-the Inclined Geo Synchronous Orbit （IGSO）, MEO and geosynchronous Earth orbit （GEO）-work in concert in different orbits, was an exclusive BDS innovation and a world first. “Existing global navigation satellite systems, such as the US GPS and Russia's GLONASS, only have a MEO satellite constellation, ” said Wang.

The MEO satellites, in orbit 20, 000 kilometers above Earth, are a special type of satellite providing global service, while the IGSO and GEO satellites, in an orbit 360, 000 kilometers above Earth, mainly enhance regional service quality, according to Wang. That explained why completion of the MEO constellation was significant, marking the completion of the core network for BDS-3, meaning a stable BDS-3 global coverage without weak points has been carried out.

Feedback shows that the BDS service quality was already comparable to GPS since the end of 2018, and after completing BDS-3, “We will be as good as any GNSS, ” Wang said.

1. How many BDS satellites were sent into their planned·orbit successfully?

A．3.

B．5.

C．18.

D．30.

2. What's the advantage of BDS compared with GPS and GLONASS?

A．The excellent service quality.

B．The diverse functions.

C．The lower cost of designing it.

D．The ability to work in different orbits.

3. Why are the MEO satellites important?

A．They can serve the world.

B．They can enter farther orbits.

C．They can avoid all the weak points.

D．They can be put into use immediately.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Exploring Space Is Very Important to the World

B．The BDS-3 System Has Benefited Many Countries

C．The Core Constellation of BDS-3 Completes Deployment

D．China Becomes the First Country to Launch a MEO Satellite

【推荐3】Indoor Sports Games & Activities for Kids

Stuck indoors? No problem. There are plenty of fun sports activities for kids that can be played indoors. Here are the most fun indoor sports activities and games for kids.

Balloon Football

Obviously you don’t want to play football in your family living room, which is why this safer version of football is the perfect indoor sports activity for kids. This game is easy: simply drop a balloon in the middle of a long rectangle table, and have each team try to blow the football toward the other’s side goal. For a funnier, larger than life version of indoor balloon football, check out this must-see video.

Who is eligible: Aged 6⁺

Hula Hoop

While most might think that Hula Hoops are a solo activity, you can totally play hula hoop with others as a fun kid’s indoor sports activity. The most fun team-based activity using a Hula Hoop is racing: Have two kids spinning Hula Hoops and then try to simultaneously(同时) move, whether they run, shimmy, or herky-jerky their way to the finish line, and is then declared winner!

Who is eligible: Aged 8⁺

Foam Sports

Foam (泡沫)sports are perfect for indoors, since most foam objects won’t break any windows inside your home! Take your kid to your local department store, and be sure to pick up a foam basketball, foam football, or even Nerf foam guns. Make sure you ensure boundaries in your home when letting your kid play indoors with foam sports toys.

Who is eligible: Aged 4-6

Baseball

Obviously it is ideal to start with a foam ball, and make sure there is enough space around the hitter so that they don’t accidentally hit anyone!

Who is eligible: Aged 5-9

1. What is special about Hula Hoop?

A．It is only a solo activity.	B．It will run toward the goal.
C．It can’t be used for competition.	D．Kids can compete with each other.

2. What advantage does the foam sports have?

A．It is easy to buy in a store.	B．It doesn’t need boundaries.
C．It won’t break glass at home.	D．It is quite soft to carry around.

【推荐1】A father and car fan, Craig Blackburn, built a Batmobile for his son’s hope for using the vehicle to brighten the lives of sick children. And now he hopes to use it for more than just his son’s hope after seeing the children’s reaction to the Batmobile.

Based on the number of failures he had seen in car groups, he estimated that only about one in fifty attempted constructions was actually finished and he realized what an incredible opportunity he had.

Mr. Blackburn started the project at the beginning of 2018 after hearing a friend in the US was doing the same thing. It started with importing an outer shell overseas, before picking brains of a friend who had a background as a worker in a car factory to gain knowledge of how to build the car. With the help of his friend, Mr. Blackburn built the Batmobile in 18 months with the cost reaching six figures.

Mr. Blackburn hoped to add a flamethrower onto the back of the vehicle and said he had thought about building the more recent Batman Tumbler from the series film Dark Knight. Though Mr. Blackburn encountered plenty of difficulties to get over during the construction, in September 2019, the car made its first show at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba, before being used by Blackburn’s son for his hope.

“It was great. It was so good to see the kids’ and adults’ excitement at seeing the Batmobile.” Mr. Blackburn said. As a result, the car lover’s hope is to make the car work on the roads as soon as possible, so he can visit sick children and take them out with his son.

1. What is Craig Blackburn’s initial purpose of making the Batmobile?

A．To realize his son’s dream.

B．To donate it to sick children.

C．To pay his respects to the film Dark Knight.

D．To show off at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba.

2. How did Blackburn feel about the car-making at first?

A．Hopeful.

B．Confused.

C．Impossible.

D．Challenging.

3. How did Blackburn’s friend help him?

A．By making an outer shell for him.	B．By offering him financial support.
C．By sharing the knowledge of building cars.	D．By telling him the background of the car factory.

4. What is the car lover’s expectation of the Batmobile?

A．It will be driven soon on the roads.	B．It can be displayed around the world.
C．It can change the lives of sick children.	D．It will appear in the next film about Batman.

【推荐2】One night in 1966, Michael Chapman rushed into a folk-music club in Cornwall, England to get out of the rain, and soon found himself onstage playing the guitar.

“They offered me a job to play for the rest of the summer. And I’ve been playing ever since,” Chapman says. “I’ve told that story so many times, but it’s absolutely true. If it hadn’t been raining that night, I wouldn’t be talking to you.”

The British guitar player has spent the 50 years since then on the road. He released some praised albums in the 1970s, but his health went downhill in the 80s and 90s. Like a lot of British artists in the 1960s, Chapman taught himself to play the guitar by listening to American jazz and blues records.

Chapman actually taught photography, but quit when he was 26 to play music full time. When he was starting out, he was often compared to other British acoustic guitar heroes of the time, like John Martyn and Bert Jansch.

“The fascinating thing about Michael Chapman is that he doesn’t fit in with those guys of his generation,” says Andrew Male, a music journalist. “He’s always been an outsider. He never moved to London. ”

And while he never became part of the London music scene, Chapman was noticed by those musicians. “The 70s caught up with him in the 80s,” Male says. “He had a huge heart attack at the end of the 80s that nearly finished him off. When he made his way back into the world in the early 90s, people had forgotten about him.” But not everyone. A younger generation of musicians in America, including Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and a younger singer and guitarist named Steve Gunn, recently rediscovered Chapman.

“We wanted to capture Michael’s voice and character where he is now. You know, it’s a little road-weary, but he still has it,” Gunn says. “For me, it was really important to get that right.” “He’s the right old musician for present times,” Male says. “I think the music he makes seems quite in tune with where we’re at.”

1. Which can best describe Michael Chapman’s first involvement in music?

A．Untrue.

B．Accidental.

C．Unfortunate.

D．Reasonable.

2. What can we learn about Michael Chapman from the text?

A．He has taught photography for 26 years.

B．He taught himself to play the guitar and did far better than John Martyn.

C．To some degree, he is not accepted by other people of his generation.

D．He is one of the best guitar players in the early 90s.

3. Why did Michael Chapman quit his music career once?

A．He lost his special voice.	B．He suffered from a severe heart attack.
C．He got tired of competing with others.	D．He was almost forgotten by everyone.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．The Rise and Fall of Guitar Music	B．The Sad Story of a Guitar Musician
C．A New Generation Helps an Old Guitar Musician	D．A Brief Introduction to a Guitar Musician

【推荐3】Robots are getting better at doing human jobs. That's probably good for the economy—but there are some serious downsides, too.

Machines are expected to displace about 20 million manufacturing jobs across the world over the next decade, according to a report released by Oxford Economics, a global forecasting and quantitative analysis firm.

That means about 8.5% of the global manufacturing workforce could be displaced by robots. The report also notes that the move to robots tends to create new jobs as fast as it automates them; however, it could contribute to income inequality. The use of robots is on the rise: at this point, every new robot that is installed (安装) displaces 1.6 manufacturing workers on average, according to the Oxford Economic model.

Robots are becoming cheaper than many human workers, in part because of the falling costs of machines. And they are increasingly capable of functioning in more complex processes and varied contexts. On top of that, the demand for manufactured goods is rising.

One potential downsize to the robot revolution: automation could increase income inequality. "This great displacement will not be evenly distributed around the world, or within countries," according to the report. "Our research shows that the negative effects of robotization are disproportionately (不成比例地) felt in the lower-income regions compared with higher-income regions of the same country."

The workers who drive knowledge and innovation within the manufacturing industry tend to be concentrated in larger cities, and those skills are harder to automate. That's why urban areas will deal better with the increased automation, according to the report.

On the whole, the increased use of automation will likely create new jobs at a pace comparable to the jobs that will be lost, which cancels out fears about permanent job destruction, according to the Oxford study. That said, the poorer regions that are expected to lose the most jobs will probably not benefit equally from this new job creation due to a gap in skills. That will lead to increased income inequality between cities and rural areas, as well as between regions.

1. What "downside" does the author mainly discuss?

A．People will not be able to find jobs in the future.

B．Robots will finally take the place of people.

C．Displacement by robots will increase income inequality.

D．Robots are becoming cheaper than many human workers.

2. What do the workers need to do to compete with robots in the future?

A．To make robots help them with the harder work.

B．To improve their innovative ability and knowledge.

C．To move to larger cities or more developed countries.

D．To make their skills faster and easier to be automated.

3. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The increased use of automation will create more jobs.

B．People needn't worry about permanent job destruction.

C．The poorer countries will not benefit from automation.

D．The income gap between cities and rural regions will widen.

4. What can we conclude from the passage?

A．Robots should be banned in the future because of the disadvantages.

B．Robots can do more and better than humans in complicated processes.

C．The increasing need for manufactured goods partly contributes to robotization.

D．The negative effects of robotization will be evenly distributed around the world.